Angelina College

Angelina College Liberal Arts Division Student Success General Syllabus I. Basic Course Information :

A. Student Success – STSU 0200 & 0300 & Designer 0200/0300 One, Two or Three hours credit. A success course designed to provide first year students a systematic framework for organizing learning strategies that will lead to success in the classroom as well as careers. The course offers a wide range of skill-building opportunities such as journal writing activities, diagnostic questionnaires, and case studies that will help students develop and master the skills and techniques needed to become effective learners and problem solvers. The importance of self-reliance and self-accountability are taught as skills that are required to become a successful student and are tied to career and personal successes as well. Through the use of the skill-building exercises the student will develop their capacity to think critically. Two or Three lecture/lab hours each week.

B. The intended audience is freshmen who have completed between 0-24 hours.

C. Instructor: Office Hours: Phone: E-mail Address:

II. INTENDED STUDENT OUTCOMES: A. Core Objective Required for this Course 1. Critical Thinking Skills (CT) – to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information. 2. Communication Skills (COM) – to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication. 3. Team work (TW) – to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal. B. Course Learning Outcomes for all sections 1. Compare and contrast learning styles and identify personal learning style. 2. Explain how to manage time more effectively. 3. Discuss methods for taking notes from written material. 4. Explain the best ways to prepare for and take various kinds of test questions. 5. Analyze how best to retain what you have read. 6. Identify strategies for problem solving. 7. Analyze and evaluate some problems that affect critical thinking and how to avoid them. 8. Identify strategies to become more at ease with differences and diversity. 9. Explain the educational use of technology.

III. ASSESSMENT MEASURES: A. Assessments for the Core Objectives – 1. Critical Thinking Skills (CT): students will be required to analyze, question, evaluate and reflect on each of the strategies or techniques presented in each chapter. The students will identify the three skills resulting to be the most beneficial to them. The students will write a critical thinking essay as a final course project. The students will explain what the three skills are; why the three skills are important to them and how they are applying the skills in their academic life as well as their personal or career lives. The essay will be assessed using the Angelina College Critical Thinking rubric. 2. Communication Skills (COM) –. Written, oral and visual communication will be assessed during the working in group “Try It” exercises as well as presentations of case studies related to each chapter. Communication skills will be assessed using the Angelina College Communication rubric. 3. Team work (TW) – Students will collaborate within their assigned groups on the chapter case studies and the working in groups “Try It” exercises. Group members will be required to incorporate the ideas /contributions of team members that will lead to a synthesis of ideas and a consensual conclusion. Teams will present their group consensus to the class. The group consensus presentation will be assessed using the Angelina College Communication rubric. B. Assessments for Course Learning Outcomes 1. Students will identify their personal learning style as well as strengths and weaknesses as a strategic learner and apply their knowledge to their academic experiences.

1 2. Write and prioritize short-term and long-term goals related to your time at Angelina College.

3. Identify college and community resources and their benefits.

4. Identify academic advisor and schedule an advising appointment to file the appropriate degree plan.

5. Explain how to manage time more effectively.

6. Discuss the methods of taking effective notes from written materials.

7. Explain the best ways to prepare for and take various kinds of tests.

8. Identify the essential elements of successful reading.

9. Analyze how best to retain what you have read.

10. Explain the educational uses of technology.

11. Discuss how to develop information competency.

12. Demonstrate the ability to questions, analyze, evaluate and challenge informational data.

13. Identify assumptions and errors in thinking.

14. Identify strategies to become more at ease with differences and diversity.

15. Analyze how to build lasting relationships and learn to deal with conflict.

16. Describe basic theories in the psychology of learning, memory, cognition, and motivation.

17. Demonstrate the use of learning strategies.

18. Explore strategies for adapting to different learning environments and delivery formats.

19. Expand financial capabilities by gaining and exercising financial knowledge.

VI. INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:

The course will be taught in a face to face format with the Blackboard learning system as a delivery system for the textbook and on-line assignments and assessments. This class is taught part in a traditional classroom setting and the other part in a computer lab setting. The Blackboard learning system is used to attach to McGraw Hill’s learning system CONNECT. A variety of instructional methods will be used throughout the semester to deliver the course learning strategies, i.e. class discussions, reading, group projects, presentations, and video viewing.

The course lectures will comprise approximately 30% of the course. Students are encouraged to contact the instructor will more assistance is required.

Approximately 35% of the course will consist of reading, assimilating and applying the course strategies.

Approximately 25% of the course will consist of, submitting assignments, applying learning strategies to case studies, and writing critical thinking essays.

Approximately 10% of the course will consist of assessments.

V. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES: A. Required Textbook ACCESS CODES, Materials and Equipment – Required textbook and material: 1. Access code for the textbook, P.O.W.E.R: Learning and Your Life, Robert S. Feldman, 3ed. B. Policies – (This course conforms to the policies of Angelina College as stated in the Angelina College Handbook.)

2 1. Academic Assistance – If you have a disability (as cited in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) that may affect your participation in this class, you should see Sellestine Hunt Associate Dean of Student Services, Student Center, Room 200. At a post-secondary institution, you must self- identify as a person with a disability; Ms. Hunt will assist you with the necessary information to do so. To report any complaints of discrimination related to disability, you should contact Mr. Steve Hudman, Dean of Student Affairs, in Student Center, Room 101, (936) 633-5292 or by email [email protected].

2. Attendance – Enrollment in the Student Success program is an institutional requirement for freshman students who have completed 0-24 semester hours; and attendance is mandatory. The Student Success faculty is committed to your success; therefore, you must see the Director of Student Development located in the Student Center, Room 200E before withdrawing from your Student Success class. READ THE ANGELINA COLLEGE GENERAL BULLETIN, FOR THE “STOP, DON’T DROP” RULE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

A. Additional Policies Established by the Instructor

1. Student Conduct: As a student learner, it is your responsibility to be respectful of the learning atmosphere in your classroom. To show respect of your fellow students and instructor, you must: a. Turn off your phone and other electronic devices

b. Do not sleep in class or you will be asked to leave

c. Arrive on time for class so you will not disturb others. After your second tardy you will be marked absent.

It is important to your success that you meet your assignment deadlines. You are still responsible for assignments even if you have been absent.

2. Academic Dishonesty: The college and its official representatives may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accurse of any form of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism and collusion. Cheating or plagiarism in any degree will not be tolerated by the college and will result in no less than a failing grade on the assignment in question. Further proceedings to have the violator suspended from class and/or from the college may be initiated through the current policy of the college on grievances. Cheating Does Not Pay!

3. Make-Up Exams: No make-up exams are given in this course. This course is designed in a flip the classroom format. You will be provided with a calendar of assignments, exercises and test due date well in advance of their deadlines. Therefore, it is expected that you will have your assignments completed prior to class eliminating the necessity of make-ups.

VI. COURSE OUTLINE:

A. Description of the Course Activities including due dates, schedules, and deadlines are located in the Blackboard learning system under the STSU Course Content page, click on the Course Syllabus, Calendar and Assignments Guidelines links.

VII. EVALUATION AND GRADING: The grading system in this course is based on a point value system and varies depending on the course content. The charts below are designed to assist you in computing assignment totals and your final grade based on the total points you have accumulated.

STSU 0200/200 designer & 0300 designer STSU 0300 1270 total pts. 1270 total pts. Chapter Reading 700 Chapter Reading 700 Assessments (Pre/Post Tests) 170 Assessments (Pre/Post Tests) 170 Group Collaborations 200 Group Collaborations 200 Critical Thinking Essay 200 Portfolio Presentation 200 (regardless of total points accumulated final course (regardless of total points accumulated final course project must be completed to pass course) project must be completed to pass course) Total points 1270 Total points 1270

I. Grading Scales STSU 0200– (1270 total pts.)

3 A = 1270 - 1143 pts. (100 -90%) B = 1142 - 1016 pts. (89 – 80%) C = 1015 - 889 pts. (79 - 70%) *IP = 888 – 762 pts. (69 - 60%) F = 761 pts. & below (59%) *In Progress – A grade of “IP” will remain as a permanent grade unless a related course is subsequently repeated.

STSU 0300– (1270 total pts.) A = 1270 - 1143 pts. (100 -90%) B = 1142 - 1016 pts. (89 – 80%) C = 1015 - 889 pts. (79 - 70%) *IP = 888 – 762 pts. (69 - 60%) F = 761 pts. & below (59%) *In Progress – A grade of “IP” will remain as a permanent grade unless a related course is subsequently repeated.